The Paris Olympics, the 33rd edition of the Summer Games, concluded on Sunday, August 11th at the Stade de France. The next edition of the Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, United States of America, a city that has previously hosted the Games twice. Like many editions before, the 34th Summer Olympics will introduce new sports to the competition roster.
While the Paris 2024 Games saw the inclusion of breaking and sport climbing for the first time, Los Angeles has confirmed the following new additions: cricket, squash, flag football, lacrosse, baseball, and softball. Notably, cricket has only been contested once before at the 1900 Paris Olympics, where Great Britain claimed gold. Squash and flag football will make their Olympic debuts in Los Angeles. Lacrosse, baseball, and softball, having been featured in previous Games, are making a return to the Olympic stage.
However, the inclusion of these new sports comes with a potential cost: the removal of boxing and breaking from the program. Boxing’s future hangs in the balance due to financial and administrative concerns that led to the International Olympic Committee banning the International Boxing Association. Should an alternative governing body emerge, boxing might still be included in the Olympics. The final decision on boxing’s fate will be made in 2025.
Similarly, breaking, which made its Olympic debut in Paris, is also facing potential exclusion due to funding concerns. The additions and potential removals of these sports will undoubtedly shape the landscape of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
